Architects Raise Alarm Over Urban Housing Deficit

The Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) has expressed deep concern over the growing shortfall in housing supply across the country, particularly in rapidly expanding urban centers. The Institute warned that if decisive action is not taken soon, many Nigerian cities risk degenerating into sprawling slums by the year 2050.

Speaking at a symposium organized by the Ebonyi State chapter of the NIA in Abakaliki, Professor Eziyi Ibem, former Head of the Department of Architecture at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), highlighted the urgency of the situation. The symposium, themed “Bridging the Housing Deficit: Collaborative Strategies for Sustainable Low-Cost Housing Delivery in Nigeria,” focused on innovative approaches to tackling the country’s worsening housing challenges.

Professor Ibem explained that a significant proportion of Nigeria’s urban population currently resides in slums—areas characterized by substandard living conditions that pose serious threats to health, safety, and productivity. He emphasized that Nigeria’s rapid urbanization is outpacing housing development.

“Nigeria is one of the fastest urbanizing nations in Sub-Saharan Africa. By 2050, our population is projected to exceed 400 million, making us the third most populous country in the world, behind only India and China,” he said. “This rapid growth, coupled with inadequate housing supply, particularly for low-income earners, has led to the proliferation of slums in nearly every urban center.”

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He further warned that without immediate intervention, the housing situation will deteriorate drastically. “If current trends continue, most Nigerian cities could become vast slum settlements by 2050, forcing millions to live in increasingly dire conditions,” he cautioned.

To curb the looming crisis, Professor Ibem advocated for a multi-pronged approach. His recommendations included expanding public–private partnerships, encouraging cooperative housing initiatives, using more indigenous building materials, reforming land ownership and approval systems, and streamlining bureaucratic processes to make housing delivery more efficient and affordable.

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In his remarks, the Ebonyi State Chairman of the NIA, Arc. Emmanuel Udoniaye, stressed that the symposium’s theme went beyond academic discourse. He described it as a national call to action, challenging architects to respond with “swift, innovative, and sustainable solutions” that will address both the social and economic implications of the housing crisis.